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​YoungStar is a seven year old early care and education program run by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. As part of its focus on continuous improvement, it offers ratings and support for child care centers as they work to improve the quality of care they give children.

“[Youngstar] values educated and well trained staff, enriching learning experiences, professional business practices and safe, healthy, and nurturing environments," according to the YoungStar website. Providers that participate in Youngstar can receive technical consultation from early care and education professionals to help them grow quality and improve practices.

In addition to providing child care center ratings, YoungStar’s website provides a variety of parent focused resources such as videos and activities to support their child’s growth and development outside of the classroom.

In 2000, the University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty found that quality and affordable child care can have a positive impact beyond families and children by decreasing crime, giving employers and more focused workforce, and expanding the tax base by allowing more people to work.

In Kenosha County 94 out of the 113 child care centers are YoungStar rated. Building Our Future Smart Beginnings believes YoungStar is an important program for the county because it provides a framework for assessing what higher quality child care in Kenosha County should include and ensures children are getting the best possible care.

How You Can Get InvolvedKenosha County’s children deserve the best child care so they too can thrive. Here are a few ways you can help Kenosha County’s children succeed: